Ahsan criticised the case, deeming it feeble and filled with anomalies manufactured out of thin air. "This is a cryptic letter penned in a specialised language, originally intended for the army chief. It holds no substance. Where is a secret in it?" he questioned while speaking to journalists. "When you object vehemently, it implies an admission of the letter's authenticity."
His statement came a day after a special court seized with the cypher trial of Imran Khan decided to indict him and his aide Shah Mehmood Qureshi on December 12 for alleged breach of the official secrets law, whereas the PTI leader has requested the judge to summon the former army chief and a US diplomat to record their statements in connection with the case.
Mocking the caretaker premier's self-perception as the legitimate prime minister, Aitzaz referred to the caretaker government as the "N-government," adding it feared Imran's resistance as he was not "grovelling". Similarly, he pointed out similar bias in the handling of the Toshakhana case, saying there is a long history of receiving gifts without proper valuation, including allegations against previous prime ministers since the times of former prime minister Mohammad Khan Junejo.
Aitzaz clarified that despite his support for Imran Khan during the latter’s challenging period, there's no intention to align with the PTI. He cautioned his party against present actions, cautioning that similar treatment could await them in the future. “I tell my party that I am with Imran Khan as he is being oppressed.”
Commenting on Khawar Maneka's abrupt shift in perspective following his four-month imprisonment, Aitzaz said Maneka's newfound portrayal of negativity towards Bushra Bibi, his former wife, was strange.
Aitzaz remarked on the shared pattern among such individuals, noting, "These individuals follow a familiar trajectory: they vanish, then resurface, and suddenly, their viewpoints transform."
PPP’s leader Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan has described the military courts as “slaughterhouses”, asserting that it remains an inherent right of the accused to have access to an open trial, an entitlement that the state cannot withhold.
The esteemed lawyer said it was unfortunate that the reliance of the military courts in cases registered in the wake of the May 9 riots was upon the “abduction for statements not of the abduction for ransom”.
Shedding light on the alleged method of “abduction for statements”, he alleged that individuals were initially abducted, and coerced into giving statements, as observed in cases arising from the May 9 incidents.
Ahsan highlighted instances where certain accused, after their disappearance, filed petitions against their initial pleas challenging the military trial proceedings, arguing they were satisfied with the military trial.
Talking to media persons outside Lahore High Court, he maintained that Article 10-A of the Constitution ensures citizens’ right to a fair trial and due process. Referring to the authorities' explanations regarding security concerns surrounding former prime minister Imran Khan, he questioned the validity of these "excuses."
He stressed that the country was spending billions on the institution, pointing out that if the state fails to safeguard an individual like Imran Khan, it raises doubts about its capability to ensure the safety of the entire nation.
Expressing his sorrow over the performance of the military courts, he said the military courts from 2015 to 2019 convicted accused persons in 253 cases merely relying upon printouts of confessional statements and astonishingly enough the content was the same on them.‘Coerced punishment violates constitution’ Meanwhile, in response to inquiries regarding PTI chief Imran Khan's bail case in the Supreme Court, senior lawyer Latif Khosa expressed opposition to the idea of a trial within jail premises.
Khosa pointed to Section 352, highlighting its provision for an open trial, adding that that jail was inaccessible to media, the public, and legal representatives.
Recalling former president Asif Ali Zardari's trials in Kot Lakhpat Jail, Khosa cited manipulation of statements and coercion tactics, alleging that the same was taking place now. "Justice should not only be served but should also be seen as being served. When the media, the fourth pillar of the state, is absent, public awareness suffers," he asserted.
